NBA Trade Deadline: Biggest Deadline Deal in Each Team's History

These are the biggest trades that each NBA team has made at the trade deadline. 

Over the years every team in the NBA has made at least one deal at the trade deadline. Some are for All-Star players, most are for role players and each one is made with the idea that the team will be improved in some way. 

So just before the flurry on trades hit this season, let's take a look back at the biggest trade that each NBA team has made at or near the trade deadline. 

Keep in mind that the biggest trade for a team does not necessarily mean that it was the best trade for each team, or in some cases, a good trade at all. 

Atlanta Hawks

Year Traded: 2001

Atlanta Received: Theo Ratliff, Toni Kukoc, Nazr Mohammed, and Pepe Sanchez

Philadelphia Received: Roshown McLeod and Dikembe Mutombo

The Atlanta Hawks traded away one of the best defensive centers in league history for one of the best defensive centers at the time.

Theo Ratliff was the NBA leader in blocked shots during his time in Atlanta. Toni Kukoc, however, never turned out the way he was expected, as he had a hard time staying on the court. 

Ratliff was later traded to Portland for Rasheed Wallace.

Boston Celtics

Year Traded: 2005

Boston Received: Antoine Walker

Atlanta Received: Tom Gugliotta, Gary Payton, Michel Stewart and a 2006 first-round draft pick (Rajon Rondo)

In 2005 the Boston Celtics gave up four players for Antoine Walker and got lucky to get Rajon Rondo back after trading away the pick he was drafted with. 

The draft pick that the Celtics traded to the Atlanta Hawks in this trade was later traded to the Phoenix Suns, who selected Rondo and then sent him to the Celtics. 

Charlotte Bobcats

Year Traded: 2011

Charlotte Received: Dante Cunningham, Sean Marks, Joel Przybilla, a 2011 first-round draft pick
(Tobias Harris) a 2013 first-round draft pick and cash

Portland Received: Gerald Wallace

Just when Gerald Wallace and Stephen Jackson were starting to put some wins together for the Charlotte Bobcats, the team made a questionable move and sent Wallace to Portland. 

The Bobcats basically traded Wallace away for nothing at this point. Perhaps Tobias Harris and the upcoming draft pick will turn out to help the team. 

Chicago Bulls

Trade Year: 1994

Chicago Received: Luc Longley and a 1995 second-round draft pick (Dragan Tarlac)

Minnesota Received: Stacey King

Stacey King helped the Chicago Bulls to their first three NBA Championships and was then traded for a player who helped them to win three more. 

Luc Longley became a solid role player to Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen and was the center that did the little things during the Bulls' second dominating championship run. 

Cleveland Cavaliers

Trade Year: 2011

Cleveland Received: Baron Davis and a 2011 first-round draft pick (Kyrie Irving)

Los Angeles Clippers Received: Jamario Moon and Mo Williams.

With a little bit of luck in the NBA draft lottery, the Cleveland Cavaliers capitalized on this trade as they were able to find their point guard of the future in Kyrie Irving. 

Thanks to the Amnesty Clause, the Cavaliers were able to dump the salary of Baron Davis and ended up in pretty good shape for the future. 

Dallas Mavericks

Trade Year: 2008

Dallas Received: Jason Kidd, Malik Allen and Antoine Wright

New Jersey Received: Maurice Ager, DeSagana Diop, Devin Harris, Trenton Hassell, Keith Van Horn, a 2008 first-round draft pick (Ryan Anderson) and a 2010 first-round draft pick (Jordan Crawford)

In 2008 the Dallas Mavericks added future Hall of Fame point guard Jason Kidd who went on to help the team win the NBA Championship last season. 

Unfortunately for the New Jersey Nets, none of the players they acquired in this deal have helped the team to be successful. 

Denver Nuggets

Trade Year: 2011

Denver Received: Danilo Gallinari, Wilson Chandler, Raymond Felton, Timofey Mozgov and Kosta Koufus, a 2012 second-round draft pick, a 2013 second-round draft pick, a 2014 first-round draft pick and cash

New York Received: Carmelo Anthony, Renaldo Balkman, Chauncey Billups, Anthony Carter, Shelden Williams, Corey Brewer

Minnesota Received: Eddy Curry, Anthony Randolph, 2015 second-round draft pick and cash

Last season's trade deadline brought a blockbuster three team deal that involved one of the leagues best young stars. 

As good as the deal seemed at the time for the New York Knicks, who acquired Carmelo Anthony, the players that Denver got in return have been good for the team. 

The play of Danilo Gallinari and the upcoming draft picks are reason to believe that the Nuggets got the better end of the deal. 

Detroit Pistons

Trade Year: 2004

Detroit Received: Rasheed Wallace, Mike James, 

Atlanta Received: Chris Mills, Zeljko Zebraca, Bob Sura, and a 2004 first-round draft pick (Josh Smith) 

Boston Received: Chucky Atkins, Lindsey Hunter and a 2004 first-round draft pick (Tony Allen)

Rasheed Wallace was traded twice just before the 2004 deadline, with the second trade leading to an NBA Championship. 

The second of these trades sent Wallace from the Atlanta Hawks to the Detroit Pistons where he quickly became an important piece to the championship puzzle. 

Wallace spent the next six seasons in Detroit before retiring with the Boston Celtics. 

Golden State Warriors

Trade Year: 2005

Golden State Received: Baron Davis

New Orleans Received: Speedy Claxton and Dale Davis

At the time this did not seem like much of a trade, but Baron Davis brought an excitement with him that was needed in Oakland. 

The addition of Davis sparked the Golden State Warriors to making the playoffs for the first time in 12 years the next season. 

Davis helped the uptempo Warriors pull one of the biggest playoff upsets of all time when they beat the heavily favored Dallas Mavericks in an opening round series. 

Houston Rockets

Trade Year: 1995

Houston Received: Clyde Drexler, Tracy Murray

Portland Received: Otis Thorpe, Marcelo Nicola and a 1995 first-round draft pick (Randolph Childress)

Clyder Drexler changed teams in the middle of the 1995 season and went on to win an NBA title with the Houston Rockets. 

Drexler, who was not able to win it all with the Portland Trail Blazers, was an important part of the Rockets team which also featured Hall of Famer Hakeem Olajuwon.

Indiana Pacers

Trade Year: 1989

Indiana Received: Detlef Schrempf and a 1990 second-round draft pick

Dallas Received: Herb Williams

Detlef Schempf was the best German born player in the NBA before Dirk Nowitzki came along. 

In 1989 the Indiana Pacers made a good deadline trade to add Schrempf from the Dallas Mavericks. 

While playing for the Pacers, Schrempf was the NBA's Sixth Man of the Year twice and qa named to an All-Star team. 

Schrempf ended his career in the Northwest playing for the Seattle Supersonics and Portland Trail Blazers.

Los Angeles Clippers

Trade Year: 1994

Los Angeles Clippers Received: Dominique Wilkins and a 1994 first-round draft pick (Greg Minor)

Atlanta Hawks: Danny Manning

The Los Angeles Clippers thought they were getting one of the most exciting NBA players in the history of the league, but instead just got a bad trade. 

Dominique Wilkins did average 29.1 points per game for the Clippers, but ended up playing only 25 total games for the team. 

Danny Manning helped the Atlanta Hawks finish the season strong and get to the playoffs that year. 

Los Angeles Lakers

Trade Year: 2008

Los Angeles Lakers Received: Pau Gasol and a 2010 second-round draft pick (Devin Ebanks)

Memphis Grizzlies Received: Kwame Brown, Javaris Crittenton, Marc Gasol a 2008 first-round draft pick (Donte Greene) and a 2010 first-round draft pick (Greivis Vasquez)

The Los Angeles Lakers were on the receiving end of one of the most lopsided trades in NBA history. 

After the team basically stole Pau Gasol from the Memphis Grizzlies, the team went on to win two more NBA Championships. 

Memphis Grizzlies

Trade Year: 2008

Memphis Grizzlies Received: Marc Gasol, Kwame Brown, Javaris Crittenton, a 2008 first-round draft pick (Donte Greene) and a 2010 first-round draft pick (Greivis Vasquez)

Los Angeles Lakers Received: Pau Gasol and a 2010 second-round draft pick (Devin Ebanks)

The biggest trade for the Los Angeles Lakers was also the biggest trade for the Memphis Grizzlies, but for all of the wrong reasons. 

The improved play of Marc Gasol who was named to the NBA All-Star team this season has helped this trade to be a little less lopsided, but it will take a lot to match what the team could have had if they would have kept his brother Pau. 

Miami Heat

Trade Year: 1996

Miami Received: Tim Hardaway and Chris Gatling

Golden State Received: Bimbo Coles and Kevin Willis

In 1996 Tim Hardaway was sent to the Miami Heat where he teamed with Alonzo Mourning and found success. 

Known for his quickness and his deadly crossover dribble, Hardaway and Mourning had some good playoff runs in the late '90s.

Milwaukee Bucks

Trade Year: 2004

Milwaukee Received: Keith Van Horn

New York Knicks Received: Nazr Mohammed, Tim Thomas

Atlanta Hawks Received: Joel Przybilla, Michael Doleac and a 2005 second-round draft pick (Ronny Turiaf)

Keith Van Horn was traded three times at the trade deadline in his career and was a part of the biggest trade for the Milwaukee Bucks.

The Bucks do not have a strong history of deadline trades but in 2004 they moved players around between three teams in order to acquire Van Horn. 

Minnesota Timberwolves

Trade Year: 1996

Minnesota Received: Spud Webb, Andrew Lang

Atlanta Received: Christian Laettner, Sean Rooks

The Minnesota Timberwolves are another team that has not made a lot of trades at the mid-season deadline. 

One trade that they did make was in 1996 when they traded for former Slam Dunk Champion Spud Webb.

In the deal, they sent original Dream Team member Christian Laettner to the Hawks for Webb, who was a fan favorite in every arena around the league. 

Webb played only 26 games for the Timberwolves before being released. 

New Jersey Nets

Trade Year: 2011

New Jersey Received: Deron Williams

Utah Received: Derrick Favors, Devin Harris a 2011 first-round draft pick (Enes Kanter), a 2012 first-round draft pick and cash

Last season the New Jersey Nets took a bit of a gamble when they traded away youth for All-Star point guard Deron Williams. 

Williams can become a free agent at the end of this season and there is no guarantee that he will re-sign with the Nets. 

If the Nets are able to find a way to add Dwight Howard to the team before next season and are able to keep Williams, it will be one of the best trades the team has ever made. 

If Williams chooses to leave New Jersey, the Nets could be in serious trouble after trading away a talented big man to the Utah Jazz.

New Orleans Hornets

Trade Year: 1999

New Orleans/Charlotte Received: Elden Campbell and Eddie Jones

Los Angeles Lakers Received: Glen Rice, B.J. Armstrong and J.R. Reid

Before making the move to New Orleans, the Charlotte Hornets made a big deadline trade that sent sharpshooter Glen Rice to the Los Angeles Lakers. 

Rice played just two season in Los Angeles but helped the Lakers to win the 2000 NBA Championship.

New York Knicks

Trade Year: 2011

New York Received: Carmelo Anthony, Renaldo Balkman, Chauncey Billups, Anthony Carter, Shelden Williams, Corey Brewer

Denver Received: Danilo Gallinari, Wilson Chandler, Raymond Felton, Timofey Mozgov and Kosta Koufus, a 2012 second-round draft pick, a 2013 second-round draft pick, a 2014 first-round draft pick and cash

Minnesota Received: Eddy Curry, Anthony Randolph, 2015 second-round draft pick and cash

The trade that was the biggest for the Denver Nuggets was also the biggest ever for the New York Knicks. 

Anytime a team can trade for an All-Star with the scoring ability that Carmelo Anthony has, it is a good thing. 

Unfortunately Anthony is struggling this season for the Knicks but should be able to get things back on track to make this trade stronger for the team. 

Oklahoma City Thunder

Trade Year: 2003

Oklahoma City/Seattle Received: Ray Allen, Ronald Murray, Kevin Ollie and a 2003 first-round draft pick (Luke Ridnour)

Milwaukee Bucks Received: Desmond Mason and Gary Payton

In 2003 the Seattle Supersonics made a brilliant trade that sent an aging Gary Payton away and got Ray Allen in return. 

Allen quickly became the leader in Seattle and spent four and half seasons with the team. 

Instead of making the move to Oklahoma City, Allen went to play for the Boston Celtics. 

Orlando Magic

Trade Year: 1998

Orlando Received: David Benoit, Yinka Dare, Kevin Edwards and a 1998 first-round draft pick (Matt Harpring)

New Jersey Nets Received: Rony Seikaly and Brian Evans

In 1998 the Orlando Magic were so desperate to trade Rony Seikaly that they made two separate deals for him. 

The first was with the Utah Jazz, but that trade was nullified when Seikaly refused to report to the Jazz. 

This trade was later executed a few days later and he was moved to the New Jersey Nets. 

Philadelphia 76ers

Trade Year: 2001

Philadelphia Received: Dikembe Mutombo and Roshown McLoed

Atlanta Received: Toni Kukoc, Nazr Mohammed, Theo Ratliff and Pepe Sanchez

Dikembe Motumbo was one of the most dominant centers in the entire NBA for the majority of his career.

In 2001 he was traded to the Philadelphia 76ers and immediately helped the team. 

Led by Mutombo and Allen Iverson, the Sixers made it to the NBA Finals and Mutombo won his fourth Defensive Player of the Year Award. 

Phoenix Suns

Trade Year: 2008

Phoenix Received: Shaquille O'Neal

Miami Received: Marcus Banks and Shawn Marion

In February of 2008, Shaquille O'Neal became the Big Cactus as he was traded from the Miami Heat to the Phoenix Suns. 

O'Neal spent a little more than a season with the Suns before he was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers. 

He was named an NBA All-Star in 2009 with the Suns.

Portland Trail Blazers

Trade Year: 2004

Portland Received: Shareef Abdur-Rahim, Dan Dickau and Theo Ratliff

Atlanta Received: Rasheed Wallace and Wesley Person

Just days before he was traded to Detroit, Rasheed Wallace was sent to the Atlanta Hawks. 

The Blazers received Shareef Abdur-Rahim who played a little more than a season with the team. 

Theo Ratliff didn't do much better as both players struggled to stay on the court. 

Sacramento Kings

Trade Year: 1984

Sacramento/Kansas City Received: Reggie Theus

Chicago Received: Steve Johnson, a 1984 second-round draft pick (Greg Wiltjer), a two 1985 second-round draft picks (Mike Brittain and Ken Johnson)

In 1984 the Kansas City Kings acquired Reggie Theus from the Chicago Bulls just before the trade deadline. 

Theus played for several seasons with the Kings and led the team in the move from Kansas City to Sacramento. 

While playing for the Kings, Theus had two straight seasons where he averaged more than 20 points per game. 

San Antonio Spurs

Trade Year: 2008

San Antonio Received: Kurt Thomas

Seattle Received: Brent Barry, Francisco Elson and a 2009 first-round draft pick (Rodrigue Beaubois)

The San Antonio Spurs have made only a few trades at the NBA deadline.

In 2008 the Spurs did make a move to add Kurt Thomas to the roster. They did not give up much for Thomas and the team has not missed out on much from the trade. 

Toronto Raptors

Trade Year: 2009

Toronto Received: Shawn Marion and Marcus Banks

Miami Received: Jamario Moon, Jermaine O'Neal and a 2010 second-round draft pick (Da'Sean Butler)

For the second year in a row, Shawn Marion and teammate Marcus Banks were traded together at the deadline. 

The year before the pair made the move from Phoenix to Miami, and in 2009 they were shipped to the Toronto Raptors. 

Marion played in only 27 games for the Raptors before being traded to the Dallas Mavericks, where he helped the team to win the NBA Championship last season. 

Utah Jazz

Trade Year: 1994

Utah Received: Jeff Hornacek, Sean Green and a 1995 second-round draft pick (Junior Burrough)

Philadelphia Received: Jeff Malone and a 1994 first-round draft pick (B.J. Tyler) 

Minutes before the trade deadline in 1994 the Utah Jazz pulled off the biggest trade in franchise history. 

Bringing in Jeff Hornacek proved to be the move that the Jazz needed to get over the top in the Western Conference. 

The trio of Hornacek, Karl Malone and John Stockton played well together for several years and made it to the NBA Finals two seasons in a row. 

Hornacek has his number retired with the Jazz and is currently an assistant coach for the team. 

Washington Wizards

Trade Year: 2010 

Washington Received: Josh Howard, Drew Gooden, Quinton Ross and James Singleton

Dallas Received: Caron Butler, Brendan Haywood and DeShawn Stevenson

This recent trade by the Washington Wizards is just one of the factors that led to the mess that the team is now in. 

The Wizards thought they were getting a difference maker in Josh Howard, but he got hurt instead. 

The Mavericks ended up on the better end of this deal as they acquired several of the role players that helped them win the NBA Championship last season.